Archives for March 22, 2009

‘Thomas Vanek takes a $1.6 million pay cut next season. They can save another $3.25 million if they trade Henrik Tallinder, another $3.8 million if they can find a suitor for Hecht. They can use the money to stiffen their defense and strengthen their forwards, but Regier needs to pounce when opportunities come to improve the roster. That’s what Boston, Washington and Philadelphia did.’

‘“It all gets blown out of proportion as far as that I’m some sort of lunatic that’s constantly screaming at players and kicking them,” Tortorella said in Madison Square Garden. “No, I care about the players. But I’m going to coach them. I am going to coach them. Some players don’t like to be coached, but I’m going to coach them.”’

‘The Sabres were pushed into the coffin by their former leaders. It seems all that’s left is for the NHL’s standings mathematicians to nail it shut. The 10th-place Sabres remain five points out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but another game to make up ground is gone.’

‘”It’s disappointing because it doesn’t matter how the game looks cause we need the points and we didn’t get them tonight,” said Lydman. “It’s just very disappointing. It’s the time of the season when the little things matter and the little mistakes cost you.”‘